Ireland day 0022. Wednesday 20 October 2021- Donabate

Ireland day 0022. Wednesday 20 October 2021- Donabate
Today’s summary  Stayed in the cottage till the rain cleared at lunchtime than drove south to the coast at Donabate.   Afternoon walk up and down the beach in sparkling sunshine
Today’s weather Pouring rain all morning, then dried up by lunchtime and brilliant sunshine in the afternoon.   Light wind, about 13C
IMG_5169 IMG_5212
Today’s overview location
(the red cross in a circle shows where Val and I are at the moment)
Close-up location
(Click button below to download GPX of the walk):
Donabate gpx
Commentary

As the rain came down in torrents this morning we both began to wonder exactly what it would be like to spend an entire day in our tiny one-room cottage, trapped here by the elements.   As we pondered that question, we decided to have another cup of tea in bed to put off the moment of discovery for as long as possible.   Anyway there comes a point when the biological consequences of multiple cups of tea force you out of bed so we got up, watched the streaming rain, and realised that the era of dry washing was going to be postponed for yet another 24 hours at least.

Eventually, however, the rain started to ease a bit so Val went out for a run while I tidied up the breakfast things and made lunch.   Then, with the weather forecast optimistically offering a more agreeable afternoon, we decided to chance it and head out in to the rain-washed outside world.

Because we had enjoyed the beach walk from Termonfeckin (I just like writing that word, by the way) so much yesterday, we thought that a similar outing would be a good antidote to a wet morning today.   And indeed it proved to be the case.   We drove over to the coast at Donabate, which is the next stop up the line from Malahide.   There’s a Martello tower there, obviously, and a huge but largely empty free car park.   And as we arrived, the sun started to come out.   A short cliff top walk north from the car park leads past the local hospital demesne to another Martello tower overlooking the eponymous Tower Bay beach.

It’s a lovely spot, popular with bathers on this now-sunny afternoon.   But we were saddened to learn that a swimmer had perished there on Monday this week, overcome by the swell.  A sobering reminder of our fragility in the face of nature.

We turned around from the bay and retraced our steps south, past the car park and on to the wide expanse of Donabate Beach.   In many ways, this was a re-run of yesterday’s walk. The tide was almost at its lowest point and the beach must have been 500 meters wide from sea to dune.   A longish walk took us right to the southernmost tip where we admired Malahide from the opposite bank of the river, well away from the crowds.

After a quick cup of coffee among the dunes, we returned to the car park and headed back to the cottage.   We definitely need to get a good fire going this evening, as the clearing skies signal a much colder night is in the offing than lately.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

IMG_5170 IMG_5178
Yet another Martello tower.   This one is at Donabate Lambay Island.   Owned by the Baring family and you can go there to stay but it’s v. expensive
IMG_5183 IMG_5189
Bright sunshine this afternoon but still necessitated wearing a hat (though shorts still ok) North from Donabate the shore is more rugged, with a series of sandy coves and rocky promontories
IMG_5202 IMG_5206
But south from Donabate, the shore opens out to form a wide expanse, just like at Termonfeckin.   The rocky island in the centre is Ireland’s Eye, and behind it is the Howth peninsula At the southern end of the Donabate peninsula.   Malahide is only a couple of hundred meters away, across the Meadow River estuary.   But there is no way across apart from the railway causeway, which doesn’t have a footpath.   So it would be a 12 mi / 18km detour inland to get there on dry land via Swords
IMG_5176
Beautiful clifftop walk north from Donabate to the Martello tower (yes – another one) at Portraine
You can read earlier and later days’ blogs below

Previous day’s blog
Next day’s blog
Ireland home page

 Save as PDF